The feast of the Presentation (Syriac macalto
"entrance"), known more commonly known as the feast of Simon the Elder,
commemorates the presentation of Our Lord to the temple 40 days after
His birth (Luke 2:22-39) according to Jewish Law (see Leviticus 12:1-4).

A special service for the Blessing of the Candles, similar to the Candle
mass in Western Churches, is performed, after which each member in the
congregation holds a lit candle symbolizing the Light (i.e. Christ) which
Simon the Elder saw. It is customary that the faithful use soot from these
candles to color their eyelids, though this is not part of the liturgy.

During the Liturgy, candles (usually honey-made yellow ones) are set
on a tray and covered with a thin white veil. The tray is then put on
a table on the first step of the sanctuary, under the Gospel stand. At
the close of the Quqalyon of the Mother of God, the celebrant carries
a cross in his arms, in the likeness of Simon who carried Christ, and
performs a procession inside the Church.

At the conclusion of the procession, the clergy surround the table on
which the candles are set. The celebrant asks God in the Opening Prayer
to "Sanctify our minds… to receive You on this day of Your presentation
in the temple as did the old and righteous Simon who carried You on his
holy arms."

The celebrant then opens his arms and asks God to "grant to all those
who receive of them [the candles]... blessings
(C), holiness (R), power (O),
and assistance (SS); encouragement (C),
well-being (R), healing
(O), and rest (SS); liberty (C),
relief (R), purity (O),
and support (SS). [The letters in red read
Cross. In the Syriac text it is slibo. While chanting
the prayer, the celebrant makes the sign of the Cross on the candles moving
his hands between the four edges of the Cross when indicated by the red
letters.]

At the conclusion of the blessings, the Order of
Zuyoho. The following hymn is chanted at the conclusion of the Liturgy.